Results & Photos of the IMRA Slí Chorcaí Ultra Trail Race - Sat 10th Feb 2024

One of the more unusual running events last weekend was the IMRA Slí Chorcaí Trail Ultra and Half-Marathon. The full Ultra was an incredible 71.5km from Ballyvourney to Drimoleague in West Cork. It sounds like a long distance to drive let alone run on mountain & forest trails and country roads across West Cork.

The were a few refuelling stops along the way and the photo above shows some Ultra runners at Gougane Barra.

In the ultra, there were 77 finishers... 70 men & 7 women. As you can see from the finish times below, this was a real endurance event.

Top 3 men & women...
1 Enda Cloake 231 M 1 6:14:00 Slaney Olym... Wexford
2 Barry McEvoy 1255 M35 1 6:33:30 Laois
3 Gavin Byrne 283 M35 2 6:53:17 Dublin
1 Lianne van Dijk 1386 F 1 7:45:00 Kerry
2 Deirdre O Gorman 274 F35 1 7:56:30 Tipperary
3 Kristen O'Sullivan 943 F35 2 8:05:30 Beara AC Cork

Full results... https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2423/category/O/

The Half-Marathon option was 23.5kms in length and went from Kealkill to Drimoleague and crossed some mountainous terrain. There were 88 finishers... 61 men & 27 women.

First 3 women in the Half (L-R)... Irene Eighan (2nd), Anita Locke (1st) & Sorcha Kearney (3rd)

Top 3 men & women...
1 Nick Hogan 838 M40 1 1:58:45 Cork
2 Henry Browne 616 M40 2 1:59:43 West Musker... Cork
3 Paul Kennedy 1524 M35 1 2:03:46 West Waterf... Waterford
1 Anita Locke 364 F40 1 2:20:33 St. Finbar'... Kerry
2 Irene Eighan 1834 F45 1 2:20:52 St. Finbar'... Cork
3 Sorcha Kearney 229 F45 2 2:24:18 St. Finbar'... Cork

Full results... https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2424/category/O/

Photos...

1) Graham Meikle has a gallery HERE

2) IMRA have a gallery HERE

Notice: IMRA Slí Chorcaí Trail Half-Marathon & Ultra - Sat 10th Feb 2024

IMRA are organising an event in West Cork on Saturday 10th February that really looks amazing. It is probably best described as suitable for 'hard-core' and 'aspiring hard-core' runners.

Slí Chorcaí Half-Marathon... This 23.5km event starts at 12 noon and takes in a route from Kealkill to Drimoleague in West Cork. The route is a mix of minor country roads, forest trails and tracks across open mountainside.

It's described as follows... "The race will follow St Finbarrs Way Marked Way from Carriganass Castle in Kealkil, to the Top of the Rock in Drimoleague, with a small additional loop at the start. There will be an aid station at Mealagh Valley Community Centre, which is about half way, with drink and snacks. Please note you are following the yellow man signs. In fog or mist they might not be fully visible to you. Runners should download the route to watch or have a way of following the route to keep on track."

DESCRIPTION: Slí Mhúscraí & Slí Naomh Fionnbarra Half
COUNTY: Cork

DATE: Saturday 10th February, 2024
TIME: 12:00
CLIMB (M): 900
DISTANCE (KM): 23.5
RACE MARKING: Route fully marked - Route fully marked
GPS ALLOWED: Yes
ENTRY CLOSES: Thursday 8th February 2024, 23:30
ENTRY COST: €35

Info & entries... https://www.imra.ie/events/view/id/2424

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Slí Chorcaí Ultra... The Ultra event is something else altogether. Participants start in Ballyvourney and run 71.5kms to Drimoleague. Running 72k is hard enough but it's a really tough challenge with that kind of terrain especially in February.

It really is amazing to start a race in Ballyvourney and know that the finish line is in Drimoleague.

DESCRIPTION: Slí Mhúscraí & Slí Naomh Fionnbarra Ultra
COUNTY: Cork
DATE: Saturday 10th February, 2024
TIME: 08:00

CLIMB (M): 2140
DISTANCE (KM):71.50
RACE MARKING: Route fully marked - Route fully marked
GPS ALLOWED: Yes
ENTRY CLOSES: Wednesday 24th January 2024, 23:30
ENTRY COST: €60
ENTRY LIMIT: 100

Entries & Info... https://www.imra.ie/events/view/id/2423

In Conclusion... Both events are only suitable for experienced runners who can comfortably run the marathon distance on the road. 

As with all IMRA events, annual membership of IMRA costing €10 is required and a certain amount of safety equipment, clothing and gear must be carried by each participant.

It strikes me that for anyone aspiring to do the ultra event at some stage, the half would be an excellent one to do to gain experience and to see what the terrain is like.